Attainment gap narrows and nine out of ten young people in positive destinations
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON BBC Scotland today manage to pluck a negative out of the latest school leavers figures, with: While the gap between those leavers with one or more qualification at National 5 level reduced slightly since last year, it now stands at 21.4% – greater than 20.2% before the pandemic. Similarly, figures for pupils leaving with one or more qualification at Higher level or equivalent shows that the difference between most affluent and least has reduced slightly over the year … Continue reading Attainment gap narrows and nine out of ten young people in positive destinations
Quarter of a million languish on an NHS waiting list in England because of less-competent government than in Scotland
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From Pubic Health Scotland yesterday: At 31 January 2026, there were an estimated 586,859 individuals on at least one new outpatient, inpatient or day case waiting list. This is equivalent to around 1 in 9 of Scotland’s population (mid-2024 population estimates Scotland). 1 From NHS England Referral to Treatment (RTT) waiting times statistics—as of the end of December 2025 (published 12 February 2026) The most recent publicly available data from NHS England on Referral to Treatment (RTT) waiting times—for … Continue reading Quarter of a million languish on an NHS waiting list in England because of less-competent government than in Scotland
NHS Scotland makes ‘undeniable progress’ with 50% or more, cuts in longer waiting time lists but is completely ignored by BBC Scotland news editors
Above, the plummeting ongoing waits after 52 weeks in NHS Scotland, for new outpatients and, on the right, for inpatients and day cases. These are dramatic, around 50%, and surely ‘newsworthy’, but: Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON The BBC Scotland website above, at 7pm, nine hours after this important announcement by the Scottish Government ignores the above images: Published on 24 February 2026 at 10:00am: Health Secretary hails ‘undeniable progress’ in tacking long waits. New figures show waiting lists in Scotland continue to … Continue reading NHS Scotland makes ‘undeniable progress’ with 50% or more, cuts in longer waiting time lists but is completely ignored by BBC Scotland news editors
Why we should not get carried away with the latest Times MRP poll predicting a ‘stunning’ majority for the SNP
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON As soon as I saw this Times piece above, I’m sorry to say, I immediately had serious reservations. I hope I’m wrong but, straight off, I thought: However, let’s concentrate on the scientific, objective, reservation based on sampling. Here’s a thorough AI response to: You note – ‘Accuracy depends heavily on sample quality and size.’ Might this be a particular concern regarding this latest poll on the Scottish Holyrood election coming up Yes, sample quality and size can … Continue reading Why we should not get carried away with the latest Times MRP poll predicting a ‘stunning’ majority for the SNP
NHS Grampian had its first case of measles for 12 years after 80% of Scotland’s cases in 2025 were imported
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From BBC Scotland today: NHS Grampian is urging people to get vaccinated against measles after its first confirmed case of the illness in more than a decade. Measles is a highly contagious disease which is spread by coughs and sneezes. The virus can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling and death. The last case in the Grampian area was in 2014, and the health board said all adults and children should ensure they are vaccinated. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx24xk1d68lo No indication of … Continue reading NHS Grampian had its first case of measles for 12 years after 80% of Scotland’s cases in 2025 were imported
Scotland’s first Reform UK defecator must be hoping his own bill fails
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From BBC Scotland Politics today: MSPs are to decide whether to give voters the power to effectively sack them. Holyrood parliamentarians automatically lose their seat if they are given a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. But unlike at Westminster, where MPs can be removed by local voters, there is no recall mechanism in the Scottish Parliament. Under a members’ bill tabled by Reform’s Graham Simpson, MSPs could be recalled if they are either suspended from Holyrood … Continue reading Scotland’s first Reform UK defecator must be hoping his own bill fails
Total hours waiting for care at home package following an assessment falls from peak for third month in a row
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From People requiring a social care assessment and care at home services Management information, published 24 February 2026 (Latest release) Of those people in Scotland (All Areas Submitted) waiting for care at home following an assessment of their needs, the total estimated number of weekly hours of care that they were waiting to receive was 27,038 as of 2 February 2026. This represents a decrease of just over 5% from the estimated number of hours at this time last … Continue reading Total hours waiting for care at home package following an assessment falls from peak for third month in a row
Top Science research journal reports 115 000, especially middle-aged women living near nuclear power stations are most at risk of cancer mortality and reinforces findings from UK research
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON Even the Telegraph has reported this shocking new research suggesting serious concerns for those living near nuclear power stations. The Telegraph has a strong editorial policy to support new nuclear energy proposals1, so this is remarkable. Their report is based on these comments in several high-status US news outlets including in Nature and Harvard: Cancer mortality is higher across multiple age groups in both males and females, with the strongest associations among older adults, males aged 65–74 and … Continue reading Top Science research journal reports 115 000, especially middle-aged women living near nuclear power stations are most at risk of cancer mortality and reinforces findings from UK research
As opposition parties claim ‘mismanagement’ of prisons in Scotland how Lammy released 4 times as many prisoners by error, per head, than in Scotland and at least 12 times as many in November
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON Alerted by the above from MSM Monitor, I thought I’d find out the answer to those in Scotland who will insist – “Aye it’s just as f*****g bad here, pal!” It’s not, by no means. First, England, with sources: MoJ Partial Data (April 1–October 31, 2025): 91 releases in error, equivalent to ~3 per week. Disclosed by Justice Secretary David Lammy in parliamentary statements and published via MoJ. Recent Updates (November 1–December 2, 2025): 12 additional releases, with 2 still at … Continue reading As opposition parties claim ‘mismanagement’ of prisons in Scotland how Lammy released 4 times as many prisoners by error, per head, than in Scotland and at least 12 times as many in November
More than ten times as many, per head, early release prisoners being recalled in England & Wales due to half the staffing in Scotland
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From the Guardian: Record numbers of offenders are being recalled to prison in England and Wales with union officials claiming that some are deliberately breaking the terms of their probation in order to deal drugs in prison. Prison sources said that after the implementation of early release schemes, as many as 5,000 men were recalled in December alone – more than a third of the total number released in the year to June 2025. The Guardian does not offer an annual total and one … Continue reading More than ten times as many, per head, early release prisoners being recalled in England & Wales due to half the staffing in Scotland
